ALDRICS PAST VALERIA Freed from my task and without the housekeeper watching I decided to slip away with the excuse of organizing the Kings clothes in his closet .
So I grabbed a basket with clean sheets and walked into the castle .
I reached the ebony door and hesitated for a moment , unsure whether to step into the wolfs den or not .
Come on , Valeria , dont be ridiculous .
The agreement was fulfilled , and now its time to return to a professional dynamic worker and employer .
Im the maid , and hes the King .
I told myself, straightening my posture , because if every time Aldric and I shared intimacy under our arrangement , I acted like a nervous girl , then this was bound to fail .
I entered with a serious expression , advancing into the room on legs that felt like jelly .
I knocked softly , but no one answered , so I pushed the door open and stepped into His Majestys chambers .
The delicious scent of wine immediately assaulted my senses .
This was his private , intimate space , and everything here smelled like Aldric .
I walked toward the massive wardrobe and began arranging the sheets and some of his shirts , I got so lost in my tasks that time passed , and I completely calmed down .
I looked at the wardrobe , pleased with how I had managed to organize it bit by bit in my own way .
Suddenly , something on the floor caught my attention .
Its whiteness stood out starkly in the dim lighting .
I walked to the far end of the room .
I almost never ventured into this narrower section because it held the lords jewels gemstone rings , gold cufflinks , all the most valuable items and I didnt want him to think I was snooping through his valuables or that anything might go missing .
I bent down to pick it up , and it seemed like an old photograph .
When I turned it over , I was slightly taken aback .
It was a beautiful woman with short black hair , elegant , wearing a navy blue dress , embraced by a much larger man with dark red hair who was kissing her lips .
It wasnt just the kiss itself but the overwhelming love radiating from that simple image between those two people .
It was obvious this was the King and his former mate .
The creaking of a door snapped me out of my thoughts .
I thought His Majesty had caught me , but when I lifted my head , I saw the sound came from a small wooden door at the back of the wardrobe that I hadnt even known existed .
It must have accidentally stayed open , and thats where this photograph had fallen from .
I knew I shouldnt be snooping I was breaking every rule the housekeeper had given me but like a fool , I raised my hand and pushed open that barrier separating me from King Aldrics secrets , My eyes widened in shock .
ALORS PAST It was a meticulously organized shelf , not a speck of dust , if he cleaned it himself .
There were well protected boxes on the lower shelves , and on the upper ones , a large , heavy book .
I took it carefully and opened it .
It was filled with more and more paintings , all of her , immortalizing their love in both human and wolf forms- intimate moments they had shared , as a family .
At the end of the pages , she appeared pregnant , her belly enormous , while the King gazed at her lovingly , with an expression 1 had never seen in his eyes before .
Obviously , he would never show those kinds of feelings toward me .
Finally , there were two beautiful red haired babies painted lying on Aldrics chest as he rocked them gently to sleep in a chair .
I swallowed the knot in my throat and carefully placed the book back in its exact position .
Instead of leaving immediately , I ended up checking one of the smaller boxes below .
It was filled with tiny blankets and well preserved baby clothes .
I pulled out a tiny blue onesie and stared at it sadly , remembering my own baby , whom I couldnt even buy clothes for What are you doing going through my private things , Valeria ?! the Kings furious roar behind me made me tremble from head to toe in fear .
I hurriedly put the tiny garment back and turned around , shaking as I stepped away from that hidden space to face his wrath .
… Im sorry , Your Majesty .
A photo fell , and I was just putting it back … I tried to explain with my head lowered , feeling his rushed footsteps approaching me .